Developing Responsive Aikido

[@jerzyYYDS]

Thank you for bringing life back to aikido. Trying different scenarios, getting away from zombie ukes, and getting ready for various outcomes are what we need in modern aikido. Greetings from China! Hope to see you in Japan in May :)

[@abdullahrahman5860]

One of the problems with Aikido is that everyone is an expert and only they have the truth. True martial artists are like musicians who get together and play and learn and come away better because of the shared experiences. Being dogmatic is about ego. I applaud this gentleman for sharing common sense knowledge gained from actual experience. Everyone in the martial arts world knows the "word" on Aikido. A style that is unrealistic and impracticable. This gentleman's work reminds me of the work of Mr. Tomiki and his style of Aikido which used judo and its training methods as its practical base. He is doing Aikido a great service. We should all strive to be empty cups. Sensei Ueshiba studied many styles and on his deathbed was still trying to perfect his Aikido. Remember he welcomed judo guys and others from other styles. Jigoro Kano was interested in what Ueshiba was doing and allowed Mr. Tomiki to study with him and learn his way of "Ju". We should follow their examples.

[@GreenwoodAikido]

Thanks for your thoughtful comment. Nishio Sensei was good friends with Tomiki Sensei and they shared a lot of ideas. I greatly admire Tomiki Sensei as well. As you say, Aikido has to begin with a base of judo - or some form of stand up grappling, wrestling, sumo, tuei shou, etc. An alive form of free or randori practice can then emerge from this base and be refined and adapted to produce Aikido. Judo and wrestling fundamentals including footwork, kuzushi, ashi waza, elbow passing, arm drag, grip fighting, etc. etc. are absolutely essential to functional aikido.

[@斗鬼神]

I would like to ask you, what is “aiki” in aikido?

[@GreenwoodAikido]

@@斗鬼神 This subject is widely discussed. What causes you to ask me?

[@斗鬼神]

@@GreenwoodAikido I am also an aikido practitioner, nishio style, and my sensei is arisue takao. But in many years of study, I haven't got an exact answer from any of the elders, including that I have followed your channel for a long time, and I am looking forward to knowing your opinion.I'm sorry that my English expression is very poor. Most of them are translated by software. If I don't express my sincerity and respect, I hope you can understand.

[@GreenwoodAikido]

​@@斗鬼神 I understand. Thank you for your question. The word 'aiki' has so much history. I can only say what I understand based on my own experience and understanding. There are different meanings. I think in aikido 'aiki' refers first to a social function which encourages people to accept each other and seek mutual understanding. This is aikido as a way of life. In physical practice we find ways to express this through our budo. Actually, I think aikido is a kind of impossible goal. We can strive for it but never completely achieve it. Perfect harmony is difficult when facing harsh reality. We will never reach the star, but it will guide our journey. In general, 'aiki' refers to a harmonious relationship of opposing forces (yin/yang) which avoids resistance and opposition. In aikido the idea of kokyu is not just breathing. Kokyu can be a code for yin/yang. Kokyu awase can mean coordinating with our opponent's mind and body. But there is another kind of 'aiki' that manifests in kokyu ryoku. It is harmonizing yin/yang within our own body. This is an application of aiki - the coordination of energy/force inside yourself. This 'aiki' is the development internal power. This is a difficult thing to answer well. I hope this helps!

[@TheGreaterU]

Very good. We call that the push/pull or baiting the hook. Do you also incorporate free form combat practice? We have found that helps a lot with finding that sweet spot for standing joint locks and take downs to work.

[@GreenwoodAikido]

Thank you! We do similar to judo randori but with emphasis on aikido technique, distancing and kuzushi. It's more like old school judo randori where the focus is on the quality of the interaction rather than just winning with strength or athleticism. There's enormous overlap between these arts.

[@keithwynn2722]

what a great video thank you. it is the best

[@oxytoci]

What every martial artist should know...But most of them don't know 👍👍👍

[@dsnyder5164]

Excellent points!🙌

[@JustSomeGuy69420]

I really feel that greco-roman wrestling is a great complement to Aikido. I use a lot of arm drags and duck-unders.

[@GreenwoodAikido]

Absolutely! Wrestling concepts fit perfectly in aikido as we close the distance. It also lets us dial up the intensity and resistance in training while keeping risk of injury low.

[@darthwolfX2]

I like these training methods in this video

[@AikidoEducation]

This reinforces misunderstandings of Aikido and gives support to the false notions that Aikido should be tested in sparring. The Aikido being shown here is mechanical. The distance is wrong. Nage is not moving. The very idea of trying to do a technique to an attacker shows the lack of understanding. If you want to study what to do when a technique doesn't work study Oyo Henka by Saotome Sensei: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6HNeneIjKala6s

[@Eternaprimavera73]

Saotome didn't explain you that of the attacker doesnt move, you also don't move. This happens because when you do only Kata, you rely basically on the uke unbalanced running into you. Basically, you practice a coreographed dance, and you call It aikido. What you say makes sense only when the uke doesnt take advantage from your First mistake.

[@AikidoEducation]

You are simply repeating the typical hogwash criticism of Aikido for the MMA/jujitsu perspective and are ignoring the specific things I said. In this video Uke is not really attacking with any energy. And stands there with his free hand on his belly. Talk about kata. The problem with Aikido is that people want to use it for fighting in the sense of an MMA fights and forget the basics. Like control the distance. Move. Move. Move. And train with some real intention. This is not that. @@Eternaprimavera73

[@Eternaprimavera73]

@@AikidoEducation no control of the distance? What Is control of the distance for you? To escape? Do you notice that ueshiba in his video Is not escaping and turning all the time? And how can you say that there Is no intention in uke? Just because he doesnt throw himself in the Attack as a stupid? Don't you notice that this uke never gives the advantage of running to the nage, and that aikido Is not running marathons? Uke Is changing Is intention adjusting Moment by Moment, and not Just running to another direction. Sonit Is different from the prearranged and still running executed mistakes of saotome 's passive uke. Here uke still keeps a balance. This Is more difficult to do. Because It Is budo. It Is aikido. If the opponente doesnt move you don't move Is not a MMA statement. Is a Tai chi One. But Is also common sense. Intelligence. You can follow your run ki do if you like, but you are not qualified to speak about aikido. You can only practice run ki do with running ukes.

[@AikidoEducation]

In the video in question Uke is not attacking with any energy. Nage is too close. He is close enough to be struck. That is not proper distance in Aikido.You must be outside of kicking range. It's impossible to follow your English. But the fact remains that the video is not a good example of martially focussed Aikido. It looks nothing like Nishio. The things you are stating about O Sensei and the training under him are completely inaccurate. He insisted on three step distance for attacks. You don't know what you are talking about. Even before the war in 1935 when Aikido was less movement based, it was very movement based. With proper distance and Uke unbalancing with the his movement, leading, never planted. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaiWh2acl9tgY8k It is very important to resist efforts to change Aikido in the image of MMA/Jujitusu.

[@Eternaprimavera73]

@@AikidoEducation you can Say that only because you don t know what Is Energy. Because fir you Energy Is running of course. No matter if only in aikido people has this strange opinion. Karate, judo, Kung fu, eveywhere. Everybody knows. Except runkidokas. Enjoy your run ki do